Sex and Gender Biases in Deep Brain Stimulation: A Scoping Review of Adverse Events and Their Implications

This scoping review examines sex and gender differences and potential sex- and gender-related biases in adverse events associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS). The review systematically maps existing empirical and theoretical literature reporting device-related adverse events and clinical outcomes. Moreover, it assesses how sex and gender are reported and analyzed across studies, and identifies gaps in evidence and reporting practices. It explores how these biases may influence patient care, clinical outcomes and access to treatment. This review includes a predefined search strategy, eligibility criteria, exclusion criteria and data extraction framework. The findings of this scoping review are expected to inform future research, improve awareness of sex and gender considerations in device safety, and support more equitable evidence generation in neurotechnology.